I hear great things about Portland and hope to get there in the next few years, however one friend said if you want a hoppy beer you can get one anywhere in the area, but if you want something else you are SOL

There are lots of great hoppy beers here, but the variety and innovation of others shouldn't get overlooked. For instance, there's a little known brewery named Heater Allen, making nothing but lagers, all of them outstanding. Not to mention Hair of the Dog, making basically unqualifiable styles all of which are incredible.

You'd fit right in...Asheville's got about 100 motto's. One is "Something for everyone", another is "Where Weird is Normal". I think the official one is "any way you like it"...http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx

Denny, Asheville is a great town and it's kinda like the Portland of the East in some ways. Lots of laid back people, very much an art town. Great hiking and beautiful backdrop for beer and food. One of my favorite places to go on the east coast.

I hear great things about Portland and hope to get there in the next few years, however one friend said if you want a hoppy beer you can get one anywhere in the area, but if you want something else you are SOL

There are lots of great hoppy beers here, but the variety and innovation of others shouldn't get overlooked. For instance, there's a little known brewery named Heater Allen, making nothing but lagers, all of them outstanding. Not to mention Hair of the Dog, making basically unqualifiable styles all of which are incredible.

You left out the sour beers coming out of Cascade. Really amazing stuff.

I haven't been to Asheville or San Diego, so I can't include them in my list. But Portland is better than Seattle is better than Denver in my opinion. I know some Portland people who would put Seattle first, so I think it is pretty close.

I didn't vote this time. I was tempted to go with Philly, one of my favorite pub cities, but Tom said it was meaningless.One day maybe I'll get to spend some time in Asheville to check it out. It sounds really great.

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Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)Homebrewing since 1990AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member BJCP judge since 1995